Improving Air Flow in Your Home with Air Duct Cleaning - By: Jim Knight

Air duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of the air systems in the various heating and cooling units. The air supply, return ducts, grills, heat exchangers, cooling coils, drip pans, fan motor, fan housing and the air handling unit are usually all included in a duct cleaning service. The average cost of standard duct cleaning is between $550 and $1,100 per unit. However, cost of duct cleaning depends upon the unit's size, accessibility of the unit, level of contamination and the location of the client.

When people generally talk about improving air flow within your home, they tend to talk about two things - how to improve the air flow and what are the benefits of it. So let us take same conventional route, and get a quick review of 'how to' and the benefits of air duct cleaning.

There are generally two methods that are implemented when air ducts are cleaned viz. power vacuum/ air sweep method, and contact cleaning.

The power vacuum method is the more expensive of the two methods, where, as the name suggests, a vacuum hose is used. The vacuum hose is incorporated into the ducts, and an even draw is created. This causes all the dirt to accumulate within the vacuum hose, and the ducts get cleaned in the process. For obvious reasons, this is known as the air sweep method as well.

The contact cleaning method is a more primitive method, and the predecessor of the advanced air sweep method. However, this method is definitely the safer of the two. In this process, the ducts are manually cleaned at a time. The 'cleaner' reaches into each duct and 'sucks' out the dirt with various cleaning instruments (mainly vacuum based) at his disposal.

Generally, almost all commercial buildings have round the year climate control, and hence duct cleaning must be done on a regular basis. Attention should be paid to commercial cooking establishments, such as restaurants and hotels. Grease ducts above stoves and other cooking appliances present heavy fire threat if left unchecked and also can contaminate the air within the building. Any duct work that is exposed to the outdoors should be painted or otherwise protected from the weather. However, stainless steel ducts are an exception and do not require further weather protection.

One should be cautious of duct cleaning professionals who make tall claims regarding the health benefits of duct cleaning; these claims have yet not been substantiated by any regulatory agency. Some states, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Texas and Michigan, require professional duct cleaners to carry a license.

However, amongst all these pros, there lie a few cons as well. A major threat in cleaning the air ducts comes from all the chemicals used in the cleaning process. Chemical biocides are generally not recommended for such cleaning, as these and other chemicals that are used can be harmful in the long run to the people living or working in the building, especially children.

Whatever be the method of air duct cleaning, it is clear that it is a necessary practice that must be implemented on a regular basis.

About the Author

Steamatic by the Carrara Companies offers both residential Akron cleaning and commercial cleaning services to the markets of central and northeast Ohio including Cleveland, Columbus and Akron. Our professional cleaning services include Carpet Cleaning Cleveland, mold removal, upholstery cleaning, tile cleaning, pressure washing, air duct cleaning, and more.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Jim-Knight/78197

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